MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS FOR GENERAL DEBATE OF FIFTY-SIXTH SESSION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 10-16 NOVEMBER

MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS FOR GENERAL DEBATE OF FIFTY-SIXTH SESSION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 10-16 NOVEMBER

08/11/2001

Press ReleaseNOTE 5694

Note No. 5694

8 November 2001

Note to Correspondents

MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS FOR GENERAL DEBATE OF FIFTY-SIXTH SESSION

OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 10-16 NOVEMBER

The general debate of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly will begin on Saturday, 10 November, and will continue until Friday, 16 November, in the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters. The building will be closed to the public during this period and access will be restricted to those persons who are accredited and wearing a United Nations grounds pass.

The United Nations building will be closed to the public on Wednesday,

7 November. Access for accredited media, with a valid United Nations pass, will be through the north-east corner of the garden, via 48th Street and First Avenue, and from 48th Street through the Rose Garden into the 1B garden doors.

Media Accreditation:

Correspondents already possessing a valid United Nations grounds pass will not need additional accreditation for the general debate. All others should make arrangements to receive accreditation by contacting:

-- Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, room S-250, United Nations

Tel.: (212) 963-6934, (212) 963-7164; fax: (212) 963-4642;

-- The Media Accreditation Pass and ID Office is located at 801 First Ave., United Nations Plaza, which is on the corner of 45th Street and First Avenue, on the North-West corner.

The hours of operation for the days immediately before to and during the period of the general debate will be:

Wednesday, 7 November 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Thursday, 8 November 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Friday, 9 November 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, 10 November 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, 11 November 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Monday, 12 November 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, 13 November 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

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8 November 2001

All media personnel are advised to arrive early to allow sufficient time for screening. Last-minute arrivals will encounter delays, and may be further delayed should there be road closures for motorcades.

For information on the general debate log on to the United Nations Web site at: www.un.org/ga/56

United Nations Audiovisual Materials

Photographs, videotapes and audio cassettes are available from the United Nations. During the general debate, the offices providing these services will open at 9 a.m. (see below).

Photographs will be available to accredited correspondents free of charge. Photographs of morning speeches will be available during the afternoon of the same day; photos of the afternoon speeches will be available the morning of the following day. Please direct photo inquiries and requests to:

United Nations Photo Library

Room S-805-L

Tel.: (212) 963-0034 and (212) 963-6927

Fax: (212) 963-1658

Videotapes of speeches will normally be available for pick-up, subject to demand, during the same day. Tapes ordered afterwards will normally be available the next day or, again, subject to demand. Tapes ordered in advance will be available for a fee (NTSC standard only) in VHS and Betacam SP formats. To request a videotape of a speech, contact:

UNTV

Tel.: (212) 963-1561 and (212) 963-0656

Fax: (212) 963-3430

Audio cassettes of speeches will be available, free of charge, from:

United Nations Audio Library (located on the first

basement concourse level 1-B, in room GA-27)

Tel.: (212) 963-9272 and (212) 963-9269

Fax: (212) 963-3860

Speeches are normally available in the original (“floor”) language in which they are delivered. Special requests for recording of the interpreter’s track in one of the six official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) should be made in advance, and are subject to the limitations of the recording facilities.

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8 November 2001

Live television feeds will be available through commercial carriers. For information, please contact:

UNTV

Tel.: (212) 963-7650

Fax: (212) 963-3860

Please note that individual television production services will not be available from United Nations Television during the general debate.

Other Arrangements:

Pool coverage: Owing to logistics and space considerations, nearly all visual media coverage will be done by selected media pools. The pools are reserved exclusively for United Nations Television, United Nations photographers, international wire services, and photo agencies. In the case of print media, the United Nations Correspondents’ Association (UNCA) will notify DPI of its representatives.

TV and Photo Coverage in General Assembly Hall: There are seats available for media representatives in the Press Gallery of the General Assembly Hall. Tickets will be distributed from room S-250 and from the Liaison Desk, on the

3rd floor of the Secretariat building, half an hour before the morning and afternoon meetings on a first-come, first-served basis, and subsequently as space becomes available. It is important that correspondents leaving the Press Gallery before the end of the meeting should return their tickets to the Media Liaison Desk for use by others.

Quiet Room for TV Interviews: A small, quiet room will be available for

Copies of Speeches for Press: The text of speeches by heads of State, heads of government or heads of delegation, as provided by delegations, are available from the relevant delegations and the Press documents distribution counter on the 3rd floor press area.

United Nations Press Release Coverage: DPI will provide press release coverage in English and French of open meetings of the general debate, including proceedings in the General Assembly Hall and the Security Council session. Press releases may be obtained from the documents counter on the 3rd floor press area. Further queries should be directed to the Press Service.

Tel.: (212) 963-7191 and (212) 963-7213

Internet: The United Nations Web site will present full coverage in English of the general debate at: www.un.org/ga/56, and in the other five official languages under their respective pages. It will offer a live webcast of the

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official proceedings of the general debate in English and French, as well as some press conferences. The Web site will also make available texts of statements in their original language, press releases, radio programmes, and photos, along with background information regarding the general debate. The general debate webcast will be archived for six months.

Press Conferences and Briefings for Journalists: During the general debate, press conferences will be held in room S-226. The briefing by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General will be held daily at noon in room S-226, except for the

10-11 November weekend.

Coverage of Bilateral Meetings: Photo opportunities will be available for bilateral meetings that are open for coverage. Media representatives covering these meetings will be asked to assemble at the Liaison Desk on the 3rd floor of the Secretariat building, from which point they will be escorted by a liaison officer from DPI.

Coverage of Treaty Signature/Ratification Event: Media representatives will be able to cover the signature and ratification of treaties during the general debate from a special platform near the Delegates’ Entrance (ground level). There will be space for a limited number of photographers. Please direct inquiries to:

Media Liaison Desk

Tel.: (212) 963-7756 and (212) 963-3353

* *** *

For information media. Not an official record.

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